“The officers answered, Never man spake like this man,” John 7:46.

We are nearing the end of the Saviour’s ministry. The opposition to Him is mounting and reached the stage where the Pharisees and the chief priests, upon hearing that “many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this [man] hath done?” John 7:31, decided to act. “The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him,” John 7:32. There were amongst the mob of opponents those tried to arrest the Saviour but were divinely frustrated, verse 44. When the officers sent to arrest the Saviour returned, they too had been unable to arrest Him, but for a different reason which they explained. It was how He spoke! They had never heard such preaching!

I. THE WORDS OF THE SAVIOUR ARE UNIQUELY POWERFUL

Please note that they did not say, ‘Never man LOOKED or ACTED like this man.’ No, it was His Words that struck them.

1. God’s shows forth His power chiefly through His Word. It is so in the salvation of sinners. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God,” 1 Cor 1:18. “[Is] not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer [that] breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jer 23:29. “The words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life,” John 6:63.

It was the Word of God that was ever the means of deliverance. “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered [them] from their destructions,” Psalm 107:20.